Protesters clash with villagers, police near Preah Vihear temple

SI SA KET, Sept 19 (TNA) - People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrators clashed with police and residents in the northeastern province of Si Sa Ket near the disputed Preah Vihear border area with Cambodia.

The scuffle lasted 10 minutes as villagers protested the presence of the yellow shirt PAD members there to oppose Cambodian building new structures in the area contested by Thailand and Cambodia near the ancient Preah Vihear temple.

Both sides used catapults and sticks to hurt each other before Thai police on security in the area separated them. A number of villagers were reported injured in the clash.

Villagers living near the disputed border area opposed the protest by the ‘Yellow Shirt’ protesters as they believed it could impact Thailand’s cross-border trade economy and relations with Cambodia.

By 2 pm the PAD demonstrators broke through barricades and marched towards the 11th century temple at the centre of several clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers after it was awarded World Heritage Site status in July last year by the United Nations cultural body UNESCO, angering nationalists in Thailand who continue to claim ownership of the site.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told journalists in Bangkok that he had received reports on the clash between the PAD demonstrators and the villagers and that he had ordered officials in the area to negotiate with the PAD in order to end the rally as soon as possible.

An international news agency reported that the Cambodian government announced on Thursday that it had deployed riot police with dogs, batons and tear gas at the temple.

Si Sa Ket residents oppose PAD rally at Preah Vihear

SI SA KET, Sept 18 (TNA) - Si Sa Ket residents gathered at the base of the stone staircase to the 11th century Preah Vihear temple to voice their disapproval of Saturday's planned protest of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) there.

Over a thousand villagers from Kantharalak district gathered at Phum Saron temple Friday to oppose the PAD plan to rally at the disputed temple.

Local residents said if any violence occurs, it will have social and economic impacts in the area. They said they want the border dispute to be resolved through diplomatic channels.

Thai soldiers posted to the temple vicinity set up barbed wire to block the entrance and block access to Preah Vihear.

The PAD plan to converge at Khao Phra Viharn National Park on Saturday, demanding Cambodian troops and villagers to move out from the disputed border area.

The PAD ‘Yellow Shirts’ group who opposed ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra staged protests last year that led to a nine-day blockade of Bangkok's airports. The siege left more than 300,000 visitors stranded.